Methos, newly returned from his mall trip, heads into the armory to see about honing his blade. They'll be heading out soon, and there's no telling what they'll run into.
He whistles low when he sees the katanas. "Amazing quality. Tell me there's more where these came from."
"Spent the day going through the mall with Percival," he explains. "We found a bunch of maps of nearby cities. Turns out we're somewhere in Australia. Don't know exactly where in Australia yet, but it narrows things down significantly."
Krauser is able to be, successfully, subtle in his interactions! He just gained an answer without giving anything away! He celebrates what return to being a normal person he's attained by leaning back, hitting his head against hte wall as though this will help what he's hearing make sense.
"Australia. What the hell-" he makes a brief chopping motion. "All right, Australia, what's the difference?" He glances up from the blade. "You're leaving when?"
Who makes a successful assassination to gain power and then trots off?
Krauser stares at him. No, not the stare in the hallway where there was blood. There's not anger here, either. There's more frustration than his usual stoic blankness.
"So you're about to go off on the sort of quest you might not come back from, where a better sword will help, but maybe not make that much difference. You won't be here to help with anything in case anything changes."
Methos shrugs and gestures vaguely toward the door, and by extension, the whole area.
"What's gonna change? Zuko keeps putting off his plans to form some kind of nebulous council that is undoubtedly going to be composed of his biggest fans anyway, while at the same time convinced that I'm involved in some huge conspiracy to overthrow him. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to pin Miho's death on me. He's never going to care what I have to say, so it's just easier if I'm not around. This way, maybe I can actually have the chance to do some good."
Then he gets up and checks outside in the hallway. He comes back, laying the katana aside. Suddenly, the air of small conversation is gone. He's a lot more businesslike.
"You mean you didn't kill her? Well, who the fuck did?"
"Why wouldn't you? How many swordsmen capable of matching Miho in a short scuffle have we got? Unlike our basic fighters, you've got the means. For motive? Come on, why wouldn't you? She threatened you, you've had an eye on taking out her boss. It's not a bad tactical move to wipe out the defense when it decides to go wandering, and you think in terms that would recognise that. Someone successfully removed her without meeting fireballs or throwing spikes. Wasn't you. You never got the opportunity."
Aww. Feel the love and trust among the Traitors Coalition.
"Nice to know you think so highly of me," Methos responds flatly. "But, no. I was on the other side of our little town at the time, and you can check with Percival if you want to confirm the story. Which means there's someone else out there with the skill to take out a trained assassin. Not a comforting thought."
He starts back toward the door.
"I really would like one of those katanas," he says. "If you can arrange it, I'll be happy to teach someone how to use the other, and someone else the rapier that I've got now. Just let me know a-sap, because I'd want it for the trip."
"It didn't have to be cold-blooded. You could have met her out there, said what you thought, and started something you had to see through. Interesting thing--whoever killed her liked the blades. They fished this one out of acid.
"So why would the killer leave them there? Why not? Because they knew they'd be recognised. So it wasn't you? Still seems like it's one of us.
"Like I said: Iroh gets one. You'll get this one before you go. I want to see who else asks for it."
"Any chance they just ran it through the acid to get their blood off? We've got a couple magic users and some pretty advanced doctors. Could be they thought someone could ID them by it if it were found. I'd be on the lookout for any unexplained wounded while you're at it, if I were you."
Because the thought of someone being able to kill Miho without being touched themselves is a chilling one.
Krauser looks at Methos. He knows he should let it go by, but Methos should be aware: "I'm pretty good at picking up on blood. I just caught hers. Maybe I could have missed a minor nick, but it was all fresh." He's just not convinced. "And yes." He is well aware when someone in the apartment gets a scrape. Starving and all that.
"Possible. But why not just drop it in the acid and leave it? That's what they did with the body."
A shiver runs down Methos' back. That would be the chilling thought from before.
"Nothing about this makes sense. You watch your back. If whoever it was does come asking about those swords, they may not take no for an answer. And if they can take Miho out without being tagged...."
"Good point." Krauser is not actually trying to be funny there. He brings the blade in, turning it over to study the edge. "If it wasn't someone working his way through to Zuko, and it wasn't one of us being greedy, that still leaves a new enemy out there.
"Damn. Now I'm hoping Iroh tells me he doesn't want it. If he takes it and turns up next, it won't narrow it down." He shrugs. "You won't have to worry about it. Good luck out there."
He whistles low when he sees the katanas. "Amazing quality. Tell me there's more where these came from."
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"Australia. What the hell-" he makes a brief chopping motion. "All right, Australia, what's the difference?" He glances up from the blade. "You're leaving when?"
Who makes a successful assassination to gain power and then trots off?
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"So you're about to go off on the sort of quest you might not come back from, where a better sword will help, but maybe not make that much difference. You won't be here to help with anything in case anything changes."
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"What's gonna change? Zuko keeps putting off his plans to form some kind of nebulous council that is undoubtedly going to be composed of his biggest fans anyway, while at the same time convinced that I'm involved in some huge conspiracy to overthrow him. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to pin Miho's death on me. He's never going to care what I have to say, so it's just easier if I'm not around. This way, maybe I can actually have the chance to do some good."
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Then he gets up and checks outside in the hallway. He comes back, laying the katana aside. Suddenly, the air of small conversation is gone. He's a lot more businesslike.
"You mean you didn't kill her? Well, who the fuck did?"
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Aww. Feel the love and trust among the Traitors Coalition.
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He starts back toward the door.
"I really would like one of those katanas," he says. "If you can arrange it, I'll be happy to teach someone how to use the other, and someone else the rapier that I've got now. Just let me know a-sap, because I'd want it for the trip."
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"So why would the killer leave them there? Why not? Because they knew they'd be recognised. So it wasn't you? Still seems like it's one of us.
"Like I said: Iroh gets one. You'll get this one before you go. I want to see who else asks for it."
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Because the thought of someone being able to kill Miho without being touched themselves is a chilling one.
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"Possible. But why not just drop it in the acid and leave it? That's what they did with the body."
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"Nothing about this makes sense. You watch your back. If whoever it was does come asking about those swords, they may not take no for an answer. And if they can take Miho out without being tagged...."
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"Good point." Krauser is not actually trying to be funny there. He brings the blade in, turning it over to study the edge. "If it wasn't someone working his way through to Zuko, and it wasn't one of us being greedy, that still leaves a new enemy out there.
"Damn. Now I'm hoping Iroh tells me he doesn't want it. If he takes it and turns up next, it won't narrow it down." He shrugs. "You won't have to worry about it. Good luck out there."
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"You, too. We'll be back as soon as we can."
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